Minister for Education, Ms Norma Foley – TD has today announced €55 million in minor works grants for primary and post-primary schools to be paid in early December, 2020.

The €55 million payments involve:
• an additional €25m funding for Covid-19 related Minor Works at post-primary level;

• bringing forward from 2021 the standard €30m minor works grant at primary level.

The Department’s capital budget was increased in 2020 to facilitate the payment of these grants in December 2020. This earlier payment of these grants will also facilitate a strong roll-out of school building projects in 2021.

– Withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union (Consequential Provisions) Bill 2020

In 7 weeks time Britain will be outside the European Union and without a Deal with the European Union there will be many adverse impacts for all the island of Ireland.

It is vital that all businesses, regardless of their size, small, medium or large, focus on their Brexit readiness as things will simply not be the same after the 31^st December 2020.  Being prepared is critical.

Below is a reply by the Foreign Affairs Minister to a recent Parliamentary Question I tabled in relation to Brexit –

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For Written Answer on : 05/11/2020
Question Number(s): 140 Question Reference(s): 34506/20
Department: Foreign Affairs
Asked by: Brendan Smith T.D.
______________________________________________


QUESTION

To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the outcome of the most recent discussions at EU level in relation to Brexit and the implementation of the Withdrawal Agreement and the Northern Ireland Protocol; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

REPLY

Future relationship talks between the EU and the UK, have been ongoing in Brussels and London to try to close the gaps between the two sides, including on the key outstanding issues of the level playing field, governance and on fisheries.

Regardless of the outcome of the talks, the full, effective and timely implementation of the Withdrawal Agreement, including the Protocol, remains vital. The Protocol on Ireland and Northern Ireland is explicitly designed to operate regardless of whether an EU-UK Future Relationship Agreement is in place.

The only appropriate channel for considering issues around the implementation of the Protocol for Ireland and Northern Ireland is through the structures of the Withdrawal Agreement – the Joint Committee and Specialised Committees were established for that very purpose.

To this end, the Joint Committee met on 19 October, with another meeting scheduled for mid-November, and the Specialised Committee on the Implementation of the Protocol on Ireland/Northern Ireland is meeting today. Ireland participates in both Committees as a member of the EU delegation.

Cavan/Monaghan Fianna Fáil TD Brendan Smith has been informed by the HSE that Bóthar Oirialla Group Home, Carrickmacross has  been included in the HSE Estimates process for 2021.  The HSE further added that a letter of determination leads to the standard process around agreeing what will be included in the National Service Plan for 2021 and this process takes place between the Department of Health and the HSE.

“The funding required to operate this Group Home is not within the current budget allocation and I have renewed my appeal to the HSE to have this much needed Centre opened as early as possible in 2021.  This Centre will provide 5 residential placements  to people with a physical and sensory disability.

The HSE informed me that the Group Home required completion of remedial works which have been identified and costed.  They added that due to the impact of covid 19 on Property Management and Estates Department these remain outstanding and the works have been identified for consideration.

I discussed with Minister Rabbitte, who has responsibility for Disabilities, the absolute need to have services provided at the Oriel Group Home at the earliest possible date.  I emphasised to her that it is essential to make financial provision in the forthcoming HSE 2021 Plan for Bóthar Oirialla Group Home”, stated Brendan Smith TD.

Copy of correspondence attached.

Fianna Fáil TD for Cavan-Monaghan Brendan Smith has welcomed news of almost €400,000 in CLÁR funding being made available for Cavan / Monaghan.

This funding will support the provision of safety measures around schools and community facilities, as well as the development of community recreation areas. 

Deputy Smith said: “The 2020 CLÁR programme places a particular focus on supporting CLÁR communities to deal with the impact of COVID-19 and meeting the needs of communities in these challenging times.

“The projects announced today will help to improve safety around schools and community facilities in CLÁR areas and help people to socialise in a safe and socially-distanced manner. This is some really positive news this morning for communities in Cavan/Monaghan,”

“St Dympna’s National School, Tydavnet and Killeevan National School will receive funding for resurfacing and drainage and safety infrastructure. Mullagh Sports and Community Grounds and Ballinagh Community Enterprise Association will receive funding for traffic calming and pedestrian access to community facilities.  The money being made available to both Cavan and Monaghan will make a big difference in the communities,” said Deputy Smith. 

Cavan/Monaghan Fianna Fáil TD Brendan Smith has received confirmation from the HSE that there has been no break in continuity of GP services in Swanlinbar with a Locum GP now in place.

“With the retirement of Dr. Jacqueline Ellis-Deering and Dr. Kevin Deering at the end of October the HSE had advertised some time ago for a replacement GP.  The commencement of services by the Locum GP is most welcome.  Many constituents in the wider Swanlinbar area had spoken to me regarding the absolute need to retain GP services locally and I had outlined those views very strongly to the HSE which they fully accepted”, stated Brendan Smith TD.

I welcome the approvals of funding for the following projects in #Cavan and #Monaghan under the Government’s Clár Programme. I wish to compliment all Groups on submitting their successful applications.

I welcome the approval of funding for Bailieborough Swimming and Leisure Centre under the Government’s Covid 19 stability fund.

This is a necessary and welcome development to support the re-opening of these facilities which are a great amenity for families from a wide catchment area.

I am glad to have supported the Board of Management in their ongoing work and particularly their efforts to ensure that the Centre will be able to re-open.Covid 19 presents so many difficulties for voluntary organisations providing important services for local communities.

Supports needed to be provided to students who are living in areas with inadequate broadband telecommunications infrastructure.

Please see below reply to a further Parliamentary Question I tabled to the Minister for Further Education on this subject.

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For Written Answer on : 21/10/2020
Question Number(s): 212 Question Reference(s): 32074/20
Department: Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science
Asked by: Brendan Smith T.D.
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QUESTION

To ask the Minister for Further and Higher Education; Research; Innovation and Science the supports that will be provided to students to assist them with online and blended learning in which difficulties arise due to inadequate broadband telecommunications; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

REPLY


It has been a significant priority for me, in the context of the shift to online teaching and learning that has arisen from the public health restrictions, to provide support to students to facilitate connectivity and to examine options designed to seek to minimise the extent to which connectivity challenges act as a barrier to full participation in higher and further education.

In this regard, as part of the package of financial support approved by Government to help underpin the recommencement of higher and further education for the current academic year, my Department allocated €15 million to higher and further education providers for a grant to support disadvantaged students in accessing ICT devices. This initiative which enabled a bulk purchase of approximately 16,500 laptops on behalf of higher education institutions is intended to help address concerns regarding the digital divide in the context of the shift to online and blended models of learning, and the importance of supporting disadvantaged students to adapt to these new models of learning.

The delivery through the National Broadband Plan of high-speed internet connectively nationwide will ultimately provide a solution to current differences in broadband experience for students and learners. In the interim there are initiatives across a number of Government Departments to facilitate connection through community-based broadband hubs and liaison with telecommunication providers on packages, including unlimited data. It is also worth noting that, at the present time HEAnet provides a WiFi solution – Eduroam – designed by and for the higher education community which operates across the education locations nationally. Eduroam allows a student to access WiFi wherever Eduroam is broadcast, enabling a student to seamlessly roam from one Eduroam location to another.

HEAnet is currently working on options to extend the reach of Eduroam beyond the traditional campus locations to areas within the wider community. An extended Eduroam footprint would greatly overcome connectivity challenges and facilitate staff and students in effective teaching and learning activities based at their home location. HEAnet has already made progress in this regard, with Eduroam now available at many teaching hospitals and several public libraries.

I have recently facilitated engagement between HEAnet and relevant Government Departments and Public Sector Bodies to explore the potential for pilot projects trialling the availability to students of Eduroam, via wi-fi hotspots in public infrastructure owned and/or funded by the State. I anticipate receiving an update from HEAnet on its engagement with these bodies shortly.

I welcome the approval by my colleague, Norma Foley T.D., Minister for Education of a new PE Hall for the Royal School, Cavan.

This will be a very welcome addition to the school’s accommodation and will enhance considerably the facilities at The Royal School.

I am glad to have supported the application and I compliment the Principal, Mr Padraig Corley, and the Board of Management on their successful application. Cavan and Monaghan Education and Training Board – CMETB will deliver the project as they will with the recently sanctioned PE Hall for Monaghan Collegiate School.